Facts

Book signing

Louis Agnello Jr. had a vision in the early 1990s. In it, a white-haired man told a story Agnello “just knew” he had to share.

So he began writing a book. But then, in 1992, with 80 percent of the manuscript complete, he stopped. Personal vices had taken hold of him, steering him down a path he admits also shaped him.

"I'm very weak for the flesh. I have a real weakness. Women are my kryptonite," said Agnello, who prefers to be called Cousin Vinny and is set to speak Saturday in Ocala.

A former stripper, he looked to use the bachelor's degree in English he received from Western Connecticut State University to write for newspapers.

But after following his own schedule for $1,000-a-week, hearing he'd be needed a minimum of 50 weekly hours to cover PTA meetings for 40 percent of what he previously made, "I decided that wasn't for me," he said.

Cousin Vinny was approached "by some young, pretty gals who told me I would be the ultimate manager. I was 33 and on my way out [of stripping] and they were on their way in."

The next 19 years saw Vinny live what would seem like 12 lives in one — including "The Stripper King of New York," a soap opera actor, "The King of Bling" and the owner of a failed Subway franchise.

He also was shot twice in August of 2008 in what police determined was a botched robbery attempt. (Cousin Vinny views it differently, saying he was ambushed and had none of the expensive jewelry he was wearing taken.)

Finally, in 2011, he was drawn back to the novel he put aside nearly two decades earlier.

The result is "The Devil's Glove," a work that has Cousin Vinny touring the country. He is slated to appear at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ocala's Barnes & Noble.

"The Devil's Glove" tells the story of a minor league baseball player named Billy Green who had all but given up on playing in the Majors until he finds a glove he believes has special powers; he turns to Satan for help. Not long after, the player realizes the demands of his contract with Satan weren't worth the joy of his achievement, so he breaks the deal and finds himself miserable and back in the minors.

Later, Satan adds an addendum to the deal, forcing the player to coach an 11-year-old with similar aspirations.

"In reality, heaven and hell are fighting for the young man's soul," wrote Linda Tuccio-Koonz in a review for the Danbury (Conn.) News Times. "Though it sounds preachy, it's not that kind of novel. Rather, it's a mystery about a boy who is growing up, chasing his dreams, and struggling to find the right path. It's about human nature, with baseball as the backdrop."

Cousin Vinny contends the story also brings about internal reflection.

"This book will lead the reader to whatever higher power they believe in," he said. "When you read it, you'll delve into your own soul and see yourself in every character.

"I also believe had I finished the book when I should have, right after I started it, we would have players like Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds going into the Hall of Fame without cheating. I didn't do my job by delivering the message on time."

And as for Cousin Vinny personally, his life has changed completely.

"I went from a guy who could have any woman in the world to one who ends up with nothing," Cousin Vinny said. "That's poetic justice.

<p><i>Correction: The baseball player in the book by Louis Agnello Jr. is Billy Green. Agnello was shot in 2008. An earlier version of this article had incorrect information.</i></p><p>Louis Agnello Jr. had a vision in the early 1990s. In it, a white-haired man told a story Agnello “just knew” he had to share.</p><p>So he began writing a book. But then, in 1992, with 80 percent of the manuscript complete, he stopped. Personal vices had taken hold of him, steering him down a path he admits also shaped him.</p><p>"I'm very weak for the flesh. I have a real weakness. Women are my kryptonite," said Agnello, who prefers to be called Cousin Vinny and is set to speak Saturday in Ocala.</p><p>A former stripper, he looked to use the bachelor's degree in English he received from Western Connecticut State University to write for newspapers.</p><p>But after following his own schedule for $1,000-a-week, hearing he'd be needed a minimum of 50 weekly hours to cover PTA meetings for 40 percent of what he previously made, "I decided that wasn't for me," he said.</p><p>Cousin Vinny was approached "by some young, pretty gals who told me I would be the ultimate manager. I was 33 and on my way out [of stripping] and they were on their way in."</p><p>The next 19 years saw Vinny live what would seem like 12 lives in one — including "The Stripper King of New York," a soap opera actor, "The King of Bling" and the owner of a failed Subway franchise. </p><p>He also was shot twice in August of 2008 in what police determined was a botched robbery attempt. (Cousin Vinny views it differently, saying he was ambushed and had none of the expensive jewelry he was wearing taken.)</p><p>Finally, in 2011, he was drawn back to the novel he put aside nearly two decades earlier.</p><p>The result is "The Devil's Glove," a work that has Cousin Vinny touring the country. He is slated to appear at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ocala's Barnes & Noble.</p><p>"The Devil's Glove" tells the story of a minor league baseball player named Billy Green who had all but given up on playing in the Majors until he finds a glove he believes has special powers; he turns to Satan for help. Not long after, the player realizes the demands of his contract with Satan weren't worth the joy of his achievement, so he breaks the deal and finds himself miserable and back in the minors.</p><p>Later, Satan adds an addendum to the deal, forcing the player to coach an 11-year-old with similar aspirations.</p><p>"In reality, heaven and hell are fighting for the young man's soul," wrote Linda Tuccio-Koonz in a review for the Danbury (Conn.) News Times. "Though it sounds preachy, it's not that kind of novel. Rather, it's a mystery about a boy who is growing up, chasing his dreams, and struggling to find the right path. It's about human nature, with baseball as the backdrop."</p><p>Cousin Vinny contends the story also brings about internal reflection.</p><p>"This book will lead the reader to whatever higher power they believe in," he said. "When you read it, you'll delve into your own soul and see yourself in every character.</p><p>"I also believe had I finished the book when I should have, right after I started it, we would have players like Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds going into the Hall of Fame without cheating. I didn't do my job by delivering the message on time."</p><p>And as for Cousin Vinny personally, his life has changed completely.</p><p>"I went from a guy who could have any woman in the world to one who ends up with nothing," Cousin Vinny said. "That's poetic justice.</p><p>"But I understand that. I have a different path now."</p>